“The name of the second river is the Pishon; it is the one that skirts all through the land of Cush” (Genesis 2:10)
Heaven, a paradise of righteous dwelling, there flows four rivers, Ephesus, Pishon, Tigris, and Euphrates. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it skirts through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.” (Genesis, 2:8-14)
The story of its names changing revealed upon a miracle GOD avowed to Righteous Abune Zera Brooke as written in their story and narrated as: the armies of the then king were trailing him, they reached the Pishon River; Abune Zera Brooke hided the seven books of Prophet David and the Gospel, from their enemies. After five years and returning back to the river, inquiring back the Holy Scriptures, “Give me my books, Pshion.” Pishon returned Holy books without a single drop of water. When our father showed it to the disciple Zerubbabel, he praised the work of God with him.
Abune Zara Brooke blessed Pishon and said, “There will be great salvation within you” From that time onward the barren have borne, and the sick have been healed; it has since been called the Nile.
River is the stamina of agriculture and cultivation of every country. Pupil’s consumption of water drink and food is from rivers; thus we believe GOD had created rivers for mankind’s property. The Nile is the source for water and fares the country; pupil’s life is very much been associated with water. As the usage of water is crucial, other than for drink and food; it is very useful for agriculture through irrigation; because no country can get food, drink and clean air without agriculture.
The utility of water is not only for preservation of plants from growing dry, but also sustains food sufficiency by irrigation of variety of crops, fruits and vegetables. Its vitality in agriculture set harvested two or three times a year, using water or river irrigation since it can be widely used for food and marketing.
One of the major problems in our country being shortage of water in the region, Ethiopia’s effort to use its rivers for proper drinking and food supply is insufficient; More than half of the population is middle and low class, bearing shortage food and beverage supplement. Frequent famines and droughts are also said to be cause of by inadequate access to rivers. Nile, reaching the land of Egypt, crosses the desert and sowing his wealth in every lane. Though GOD created it for our consumption; it has been nourishing Egypt.
Nile River flowing from its mother land Ethiopia to other African countries, without our consent is no will of ours. Governments attempted to reclaim the ownership through debate and regional agreement with Egypt and the United Nations. Devoid of entering war, their endeavor to resolve the issue amicably persisted for many years.
Unfortunate to us, unable to completely own total utility, but, we have been given the right to restrict the Nile. The main problem being Egypt’s reliance on its total existence and assets; it has become improbable to have unaccompanied ownership since it is the raw material for both countries. But, it is also Ethiopia’s country’s main source of income and so be it elders, youngsters and women all have contributed to the construction of the DAM.
Now, The Nile Dam is holding water, which is a source of joy for all of us. As we plead in the prayer, “We beseech the river water that God will fill the river to the fullest extent” we pray for the will of GOD in receiving its fortune. (Divine Liturgy)